Search

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common pathogen that frequently colonizes the sinonasal cavity. Recent studies demonstrated the essential role of Staphylococcus aureus in the pathophysiology of uncontrolled severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (NP) by initiating an immune response to the germ and its products, resulting in type 2 inflammation. This review aims to summarize the evidence for the role of S. aureus in the development of NP disease including S. aureus-related virulence factors, the pathophysiologic mechanisms used by S. aureus, and the synergistic effects of S. aureus and other pathogens. It also describes the current management of S. aureus associated with NPs as well as potential therapeutic strategies that are used in clinical practice. S. aureus is able to damage the nasal mucosal epithelial barrier, impair the clearance of the host immune system, and trigger adaptive and innate immune reactions which lead to the formation of inflammation and nasal polyp growth. Further studies should focus on the development of novel therapeutic strategies, such as biologics, bacteriophages, probiotics, and nanomedicine, which could be used to treat S. aureus and its immunological consequences in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic responses of an instrumented twenty-story steel-moment frame office building were identified with the data from mainshock (M 7.1) occurred on November 30, 2018 and its six aftershocks ranging from M4.2 to 5.7 in the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone. The deconvolution-based seismic interferometry was used to identify the traveling waves and intrinsic-damping ratio in the building. The median shear-wave velocity is 179 m/s for the east-west (EW), 201 m/s for the north-south (NS), and 174 m/s for the torsional responses. The building's average intrinsic-damping ratio is estimated to be 4.4% and 3.7% for the EW and NS directions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the inelastic displacement of structures subjected to earthquake-tsunami loadings. The relative intensity is defined as the ratio of the tsunami force per unit mass to the Sa of the corresponding ground motion. The effects of the hysteretic model, soil condition, post-yield stiffness, damping, and relative intensity on the inelastic displacement ratios are investigated. The results show that, compared to earthquakes alone, earthquake-tsunami loadings can enlarge the inelastic displacement ratio demands, especially for higher relative intensities. A predictive model is developed by considering several parameters, which may be used in the framework of performance-based seismic design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a reliable ground motion model (GMM) for CAV by using ground motion (GM) recordings from the PEER NGA-West2 database. A total of 17,684 GM recordings are chosen and randomly separated into the training, validation, and testing datasets. The DNN is advanced by incorporating the refined second-order (RSO) neuron. The effect of seismological and site-specific parameters on the predicted CAV is investigated. The comparative assessment of four existing models with the RSO-DNN model of this study highlights the superior prediction skill of the latter one since the RSO-DNN model is found to be associated with considerably less error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals play vital roles in mitigation and recovery in earthquake-hit communities. This paper aims to clarify the effect of physical damage on hospital organizations and represent a holistic method for the functionality assessment of a hospital. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated based on the case study of a general hospital. The results indicate that the functionality of hospitals would be significantly affected after the maximum considered earthquake. A considerable gap exists between the hospital treatment capacity and the patient demand for medical services. The method will assist hospital stakeholders and managers in design and upgrade criteria selection. Abbreviation: CT: Imaging Procedure; DBE: Design Basis Earthquake; DES: Discrete Event Simulation; DR: Digital Radiography; EDPs: Engineering Demand Parameters; HVAC: Heating Ventilation and Air Conditions; MCE: Maximum Considered Earthquake; OR: Operation Room; PFA: Peak Floor Acceleration; PFV: Peak Floor Velocity; PIDR: Peak Inter-story Drift ratio; RC: Reinforced Concrete; RIDR: Residual Inter-story Drift Ratio; RR: Resuscitation Room; SLE: Service Level Earthquake; UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply; US: Ultrasound Room; WT: Waiting Time [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript quantifies the effects of aftershocks with pulse characteristics on the cumulative damage of structures. The revised randomization method is developed to generate the artificial mainshock-aftershock (MSAS) ground motions showing pulse characteristics. The efficiency of period normalization is discussed from the point of view of dispersion, and the effects of the aftershocks are quantitatively studied. It is found that strong aftershock can contaminate the efficiency of period normalization, and the effects of strong aftershocks in the near-fault region on cumulative damage can exceed 20% and reach 40%. The equations are proposed for the prediction of damage induced by pulse-like MSAS sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript presents a new model, named SY model, to predict horizontal peak ground acceleration and 5% damped response spectrum for shallow crustal earthquakes in Sichuan-Yunnan region of China. SY model considers the influences of magnitude, rupture distance, fault types, site amplification and hanging-wall scaling on ground motions. The random effect regression analysis and residual analysis are used to fit SY model based on a strong-motion database which is established to summarize the recordings of Sichuan-Yunnan region shallow crustal earthquakes. Prediction results are provided by SY model and subsequently compared with observations and those of other GMPEs for validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence indicates that lncRNAs can interact with miRNAs to regulate target mRNAs through competitive interactions. However, this mechanism remains largely unexplored in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In this study, transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing was performed on 3 pairs of LSCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues to investigate the expression profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs, with differential expression of 171 lncRNAs, 36 miRNAs and 1709 mRNAs detected. Seven lncRNAs, eight mRNAs and three miRNAs were identified to be dysregulated in patients' tissues by using qRT-PCR. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed to elucidate the potential functions of these differentially expressed genes in LSCC. Subsequently, a ceRNA (lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA) network including 4631 ceRNA pairs was constructed based on predicted miRNAs shared by lncRNAs and mRNAs. Cis- and transregulatory lncRNAs were analysed by bioinformatics-based methods. Importantly, mRNA-related ceRNA networks (mRCNs) were further obtained based on potential cancer-related coding genes. Coexpression between lncRNAs and downstream mRNAs was used as a criterion for the validation of mRCNs, with the ZNF561-AS1-miR217-WNT5A and SATB1-AS1-miR1299-SAV1/CCNG2/SH3 KBP1/JADE1/HIPK2 ceRNA regulatory interactions determined, followed by experimental validation after siRNA transfection. Moreover, ceRNA activity analysis revealed that different activities of ceRNA modules existing in specific pathological environments may contribute to the tumorigenesis of LSCC. Consistently, both downregulated SATB1-AS1 and ZNF561-AS1 significantly promoted laryngeal cancer cell migration and invasion, indicating their important roles in LSCC via a ceRNA regulatory mechanism. Taken together, the results of this investigation uncovered and systemically characterized a lncRNA-related ceRNA regulatory network that may be valuable for the diagnosis and treatment of LSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the constant ductility energy factors for bilinear system under the near-fault pulse-like ground motions. The variation of energy factors is studied in consideration of the earthquake magnitude, rupture distance, damping ratios, and post-yield stiffness ratios. The results indicate that the near-fault pulse-like ground motions would increase the energy dissipation of structures. The energy factors are significantly influenced by the earthquake magnitude. The damping ratios have more obvious influences on the energy factors than the post-yield stiffness ratios. A predictive model is proposed for the application of constant ductility energy factors for near-fault pulse-like ground motions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Conclusions: The most frequently affected sites of cranial complications of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) are the boundary between the anterior and posterior ethmoid roof, the frontal recess, and the cribriform plate. Being aware of cranial complications in time and provision of appropriate treatment may minimize the serious consequences. Objectives: To investigate the reasons for cranial complications secondary to ESS and to find optimal prevention of cranial complications of ESS. Methods: The cranial complications of 19 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Eight patients underwent surgery in our hospital and the others underwent surgery in eight other hospitals, and were then transferred to our hospital for further examination and management of their complications. Results: The type of cranial complications involved defects of the skull base ( n = 19), cerebrospinal fluid leak ( n = 14), frontal lobe injury ( n = 3), subarachnoid hemorrhage ( n = 1), meningitis ( n = 2), and concomitant pneumocephalus ( n = 3). In 10 cases, the boundary between the anterior and posterior ethmoid roof was damaged. The frontal recess was involved in five cases and the cribriform plate was damaged in three patients. All of the complications resolved completely after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) treatment has achieved good long-term results in patients in South China with fungal ball rhinosinusitis. Gender (female), age (young), nasal polyps, allergy, high Lund-Mackay scores, prior sinus surgery and diabetes mellitus affect patients' outcomes. Objective: To evaluate objective testing and quality of life (QOL) outcomes of patients with fungal ball rhinosinusitis before and after ESS in South China and to determine preoperative factors that predict surgical outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes for 330 patients with fungal ball rhinosinusitis after ESS. QOL was assessed using Sinonasal Outcome Test−20 (SNOT-20), Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires and visual analogue scale (VAS). Objective testing was evaluated by Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scoring system. Prognostic factors were determined based on the QOL scores and Lund-Kennedy scores after ESS using a multivariate linear regression. Results: ESS significantly improved the objective testing and QOL outcomes in patients with fungal ball rhinosinusitis ( p < 0.05). Objective outcome: postoperative Lund-Kennedy scores were significantly worse in patients with nasal polyps, allergy and high Lund-Mackay scores ( p < 0.05). QOL outcomes: postoperative SF-36 scores were adversely affected by gender (female), age (young), nasal polyps, allergy and prior sinus surgery ( p < 0.05); postoperative VAS scores were adversely affected by gender (female), nasal polyps, allergy and diabetes mellitus ( p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: Both intravenous general anaesthesia (IVGA) and general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation (GA with ET) are applicable for the procedure of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JO-RRP). GA with ET was found to be better for JO-RRP patients with dyspnoea, as it provided better stabilization of the vital signs with fewer postoperative complications. Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of two different anaesthetic techniques in the removal of JO-RRP. Methods: A total of 52 JO-RRP patients with mild dyspnoea were included in the study. Each case underwent two procedures, one by IVGA and the other by GA with ET. A total of 104 procedures were performed. The effectiveness and safety of the two anaesthetic techniques were pairwise compared. Results: There were no significant differences in anaesthetic recovery time, operative time or postoperative voice quality between the two anaesthetic groups. However, significant differences in heart rate, oxygen saturation and carbon dioxide saturation were observed. Some patients who underwent IVGA developed apnoea (28.8%) and laryngeal spasm (19.2%). These complications were not observed in the GA with ET group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]